Wedding bingo for reception guests

Wedding bingo for reception guests tips

• Ask the planner or DJ for the running order and set a copy on each table: entrance, toast, first dance, dinner, cake cutting, bouquet toss. Guests who know what's next watch for the right squares instead of asking their neighbors.
• Not every reception has a garter toss, a sparkler exit or a live band. Check with the couple first, and announce at the start that a square for something they've skipped counts as a free space.
• Name one guest per table, a cousin or a groomsman, to confirm winning lines. Ask them to hold any shout of bingo until the speech or dance has finished, so the game never talks over the couple's moments.
• Keep prizes modest and tied to the night: first pick of the dessert table, a centerpiece to take home, or an extra wedding favor. Call the final winner once open dancing is in full swing, and let guests take their cards home as souvenirs.
• Pair children with an adult at their table. The flower girl, the ring bearer and a kiss for the bride are easy squares for them to spot, and a child who marks one early has a reason to stay seated through dinner.

Best for

Ages

Adults and teenagers, with simple squares suitable for children

Group size

Table groups of 6 to 10 guests, with one card per guest across the whole reception

Duration

About 45 to 90 minutes, played across speeches, dinner and the first dances